BUGIRI-Five health workers have quit Bugiri Hospital, leaving the facility understaffed. The health workers, among them two doctors, allegedly quit the hospital due to poor pay. According to a status report that this newspaper has seen, the facility has been left with only three doctors, four clinical officers and 30 nursing officers,

Dr Oundo Abanga, the hospital medical superintendent, told the Daily Monitor at the weekend that at least 170 patients visit the hospital every day with the highest traffic of about 250 coming in on Mondays.

“We have a shortfall of three doctors, two clinical officers and two midwives. This forces us to carry out task sharing where a nurse comes in and does work meant for a doctor and vice versa” he said.

The facility that was constructed in 1968, has a capacity of 200 patients. But is at times overwhelmed leading to lack of beds. “The number of in-patients keep increasing and In every ward we get more than 50 excess patients. We sometimes squeeze in some beds but this cannot go on for long,” Dr Abanga said.

Much of the hospital’s structure have been weakened by old age and neglect with leaking roofs and rotten walls and ceilings.

The Bukhooli North MP, Mr Stephen Baka Mugabi, in whose constituency the facility is located, said he was aware of its challenges, but scoffed at those who accuse him of doing nothing to help, saying as an individual he can only do little.

“No MP can solve those problems. I have lobbied government and the hospital has been lined up for reconstruction,” he said.